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October 25, 2001

Pitt United Way campaign begins

Pitt's 2001 United Way campaign kicked off Oct. 10, with the goal of collecting $675,000 by the conclusion of the campaign, Nov. 21. This year's campaign theme is "Make Your Mark."

Last year, the University collected $655,700. Faculty and staff pledged $558,200; students pledged $65,000; retirees contributed $23,400, and special events brought in $4,800. The overall participation rate was 34 percent, with 3,048 givers pledging donations.

Participants can make an unrestricted gift to the United Way, or can direct all or a portion of their donation into five separate general categories or to a specific United Way affiliated group, including 28 groups at Pitt. This year, participants also can earmark gifts to the United Way September 11th Fund, which provides support for those affected by the recent terrorist acts.

The five general categories to which gifts can be directed are: helping children grow to be responsible, healthy adults; helping families remain strong, intact and stable; promoting health and wellness; helping older people stay active and independent, and helping people in their efforts to become self-sufficient.

Pitt programs eligible for United Way funding and their donation code numbers include: After school care, 3222; Albert P. Knowles Research Fund, 221143; Albright Professorship, 9574; Arthritis Institute, 942523; breast cancer research, 830; Child Development Center, 1280; Children's Neurosurgery Project, 4645; Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Center, 234; Criep Chair Patient Care Program, 951936; Department of Neurology – Epilepsy, 1769; Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Center, 9623; Eugene N. Myers Chair in Otolaryngology, 888946; Eye and Ear Institute, 2593; Eye and Ear Institute Ambulance Service Corp., 4387; Generations Together, 574; Hand-in-Hand Festival, 1241; Janetta Neurological Surgery Fund, 3943; McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development, 950497; National History of AIDS, 1955; Neurological Institute, 222539; School of Medicine general research, 2305; Schwentkey Endowment in Urologic Surgery, 9239; Scleroderma Research-Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, 4492; Speech and Hearing Clinic, 1228; Sotereanos Endowment, 9138; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, 2331; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute/Blair, 4231, and YMCA of Pittsburgh/University of Pittsburgh – Collegiate, 9160.

The United Way September 11th Fund code is 223028. Leaders of the Pitt campaign have asked that contributions to the Sept. 11 fund be supplementary to participants' United Way annual giving.

Members of the 2001 Pitt-United Way steering committee include: campaign manager Gerry LeVan, Institutional Advancement, assisted by Jean McDonough, also of IA; campaign co-chairs G. Reynolds Clark, Community and Governmental Relations, and Jerry Martin, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Services; Rachael Berget and Jean Ferketish, Office of the Chancellor; John Cooper, Colleen Mayowski and Bill Young, University Relations, Graphics, Marketing and Printing; Dennis Donham, Student Affairs; Ron Gigliotti, Special Events; Michelle Jarvis and Doug Martin, Institutional Advancement; Chris Kenyhercz, Budget and Financial Planning; George Klinzing, Office of the Provost; Sharon Malazich, Student Activities; Joyce Nolle, Labor Relations; Heidi Pallof, Parking, Transportation and Services; Heather Sims, United Way; Trish White, News, Information and National Media Relations; John Wilds and Steve Zupcic, Community and Governmental Relations, and Anita Williams, All-Temps.

Steering committee member Frank Reed heads the retirees campaign.

On-line pledging is available for the first time this year. The Pitt-United Way web site address is: www.pitt.edu/~united, which provides a link for pledging as well as updates on the campaign.

Pitt will hold prize drawings during the campaign: a mid-campaign drawing Nov. 9 and a final prize drawing Nov. 30. Participants who return their pledge cards to 500 Craig Hall will be eligible for the drawings. Some of the prizes to be awarded include: two US Airways gift certificates; recreational activity passes, gift certificates for dining and stays at local hotels.

The University Book Center is sponsoring special sales to benefit the United Way effort: Oct. 31 in the William Pitt Union and Nov. 1 and 2 in Scaife Hall.

A final report on the Pitt-United Way effort will be issued Jan. 11.

Last year's Pitt campaign was one of the top 25 in Allegheny County, receiving the Silver Award from United Way for per capita giving in the $50-$99 range. Pitt also received the United Way Hall of Fame Community Caring Quilt award, which recognizes organizations that repeatedly show substantial financial results and use creative fund-raising techniques.

Pitt retirees received an award of excellence for their 20 percent increase over the previous year's total.

For more information on the campaign, call 412/624-5846.

–Peter Hart

Filed under: Feature,Volume 34 Issue 5

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